Safety impact switch



Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f 2,013,924 sun'rrmrac'r swrrcn Benjamin F. Noite, In, ammo. Ky. Application July 11, 1933, Serial No. 680,842

2 Claims. (01.- 2oo-52) This invention relates to automatic safety switches or circuit breakers of the impact type adapted to be applied to and connected in the electrical circuits of a vehicle or the like.

5 An object of the invention is 'to provide a switch which'may-be operated by impact resulting from any'cause, regardless of the direction of the impact, to break the circuit, thus preventing danger to life and property resulting from fire which might occur and to further provide a switch which may be operated in a similar manner to complete a circuit to make contact or trip a mechanism in order tocause brakes or the like to be applied to prevent accidents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which issimple in construction yet positive in operationfor the various purposes and uses to which it may be applied.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which is made a part hereof and on which similar refh erence characters indicate similar parts,

Figure l is a side view inelevation partly in section of the device,

Figure 2, a section on line 2 -2 of Figure 1,

and

Figure 3, a side viewin elevation partly in section of a modified form of the device. 1

In the drawing reference character Ill indicates the support of the devicehaving an upper arm and a similar arm'll which is connected below the upper arm I I and extending in the same .direction. The arm I lis connected to the support l0 by means of the bolts l3 .and insulated therer from by-meansoi suitable insulation I 4 and I5. The upper arm II is provided with an 'opening .II in which an insulating cap I8 is positioned and 1 held by a contacting pin I 9 extending therethrough. The pin is secured in place by means of the Washer 24 and nut 2 Iv on the upper surface of the arm II. An insulating washer 22 is placed between the washer 20 and the arm I I. A thumb nut is also provided on the end of the pin I! by means of which the device may be easily connected inan electrical circuit. The under face of the insulating cap I; is provided with a central depending portion 24 and a concave recess or ring 25 formed around the portion 24. The lower arm I2 is provided with an opening 26 in which a ball member 21 seats and. is held in place by any suitable means such as a clamp band 28 which is secured in place by means of the bolts and nuts 2!. One of the bolts 29 is provided with ,athumb nut 24 for connecting the other side of the switchin an electrical circuit. A rod 3| extends throuxh the ball member 21 and isheld in contact with the pin is by means of a spring 32 seated on top of the ball around the rod3l with the upper end resting against the washers v33 held in place by a pin 34 extending through the rod 3|. The lower end of the rod 3| is provided '5 with any suitable weight 35 attached thereto in any suitable manner, being positioned below the arm l2.

In Figure 3 reference numeral 36 indicates a support member provided with the arms 31 and 10 3% extending therefrom and being insulated from the support member by suitable insulators 39. The insulators 39 and the arms of .the support are secured together by means of the bolts 40. The upper arm 31 is provided with a contacting 5 pin 41 having a cap portion 42 secured thereto and mounted on the under side of the arm, being held in fixed position by means of a nut 43. The contacting pin is provided on the upper end with a thumb nut 44. The underside of the portion 42 20 is concaved and is provided at its center with an insulating block 45 connected thereto by any suitable means. A rod 46 is provided, being similar to the rod shown in Figure 1 and mounted in the ball member 41 which is positioned in the 25 arm 38 and secured by suitable bolts or fastening means. One of the bolts is provided with a thumb nut 48. A weight (not shown) is attached to the lower end of the rod 46.

The operation of the device as shown in Fi8- 30 ures 1 and 3 is as follows: The device is attached in place by any suitable means such as screws, extending through the support In which is provided with suitable openings l6 for that purpose. In the position shown in these figures the 35 rod in Figure l is in contact with the pin l9 making a'circuit from the top arm through the rod to the lower arm. The spring 32 normally holds the rod-3| in contact-with the pin I9. In the case where the object on which .the device is 40 mounted, for example, is an automobile, strikes an obstruction the impact tends to throw the weight 35 attached to the bottom of the rod in the direction of the impact, as indicated inv the dotted line position, which throws the upper end 45 w of the rod in the concave recess 25 of the insulating cap l8, thus breaking the circuit. The depending portien 24 prevents the return of the rod 3| into contact with the stationary contact is.

In the case of the device shown in Figure 3 5 the rod is normally held in contact with the insulating block 45 and upon striking an obstruction the upper end of therod is thrown off the block and is forced by the spring to contact with the concaved portion 42 cf the contact mem- 'ingcertainpartsotthedeviceitmaybemade tooperateinadmilarmannertooomplctecircuitswhichinturnmaybeadaptedtoapply brakes, etc. to prevent various accidents which wwldordinariboccuritsuchadevicewasnot employed. Thedevicesdescribedabovearesimpleinconstructimeaailyconnected in circuits, positiveinactionanditisobviwsthatsuchdevices have utility which is clearly evident.

Having thusrulbdescribedmysaidinvention, whatIclaimasnewanddesiretosccurebyLettersPatentis:-

LAdeviceotthekinddeacribedcomprisinga support having spaced arms extending theretrom,amembersecuredtothcuppuarmhaving a depending Rejecting poetic: and a concave portion surrounding said projecting portion, one

, of said portions being of conducting material and Xorming a contact member and the other 0! said portions being made of insulating material. a rod pivoted on the lower armand normally contacflng the end surface of said projecting portion, resilient means holding said rod and said projecting portion in engagement, and a weight secured to the lower end oi. said rod adaptedtobemovedbyimpacttocausesaidrodto disengage the projecting portion of the upper arm and engage the concave portion surrounding the same.

2. An impact switch comprising a pivoted contact member, resilient means tending to move said contact member longitudinally with respect to the pivotal support thereof, a cooperating stationary contact member, an insulating member surrounding said stationary contact member adjacent the contact face thereof and inertiacontrolled means for disengaging said contact members, said insulating member being iormed as a detent member arranged to hold said Div-- oted contact member in spaced relation to the cooperating contact member after said disengagement.

BENJAMIN I". NOL'I'E, JL 

